Non-Profit Political Groups Must Pay California's Largest Election Rules Fine

A pair of out-of-state non-profits will pay California’s largest ever fine for election rules violations. An investigation revealed they failed to divulge the donors of an $11 million contribution during the 2012 elections.

The Fair Political Practices Commission says donors used to two organizations to funnel money to conservative causes, namely, the Center to Protect Patient Rights and Americans for Responsible Government.

“The fact that outside interests that actually were circuitously routed through the Koch brothers network is an issue in this case,” says Commission Chair Ann Ravel.

The groups will pay the state $1 million for filtering donations to anti-tax and anti-union efforts on last November’s ballot.

Representatives of the groups say they never intended to break the rules.

“The regulations in this state are fairly draconian,” says Malcolm Segal, the attorney for the Center to Protect Patient Rights. “It’s important in the future to make sure that there’s full compliance.”

The Fair Political Practices Commission says it’s now pursuing a $15 million penalty from two other out-of-state non-profits.